TexMessage: The religious diversity of the incoming 113th Congress is unmatched in U.S. history

TexMessage

Monday, November 19

Good morning TexMessagers! Is your faith represented in the 113th Congress?

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(Michael Conroy/AP Photo)

There has been a lot of buzz about the diversity of the 113th Congress. In fact, Democrats have jumped at the chance to compare their diverse caucus – consisting of 61 women, 43 blacks, 11 Asians/Pacific Islanders and six gay members – to the Republican Caucus, which they say resembles the cast of ‘Mad Men,’ as it consists mostly of white men.

However, the diversity of the next Congress goes even deeper than race, gender or sexual orientation. The religious make up of the incoming Congress will also be more diverse than any before.

According to Pew Research Center, “113th Congress includes the first Buddhist to serve in the Senate, the first Hindu to serve in either chamber and the first member of Congress to describe her religion as “none.””

Looking at the religious breakdown of the political parties, 69 percent of congressional Republicans are Protestant, while fewer than half of Democrats (43 percent) belong to Protestant denominational families. On the other hand, Catholics make up a greater share of Democratic members (36 percent) than they do of GOP members (25 percent). And while Jews make up 12 percent of all congressional Democrats (including one independent who generally caucuses with the Democrats, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont), they account for less than 1 percent of congressional Republicans.

★ American Enterprise Institute will hold a discussion titled “Conservatives and Immigration Reform: Now What?” at 10 a.m.

★ New America Foundation will hold a discussion titled “Militancy and the Arab Spring,” focusing on the potential emergence of new or resurgent militant groups during the revolts that have swept the Arab world over the past two years at 12:15 p.m.

Tomorrow and beyond:

★ Nov. 26. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace will hold a discussion titled “The Pathway to Peace in the Middle East Begins with President Obama” at 1 p.m.